Appliance for treating especially thin-walled metal work pieces

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns an appliance or tool for treating, in particular, thin-walled metal work pieces, such as automobile fenders and like metallic body parts which need repair or require straightening out of dented or bulging damaged parts thereof. The appliance is so constructed that the applicator&#39;&#39;s adaptor can be changed to operate under the action of a state of vacuum or through continuous or successive agitation under pressure of a fluid, such as air, steam, and the like. This operation may take place depending, e.g., on the damage of a work piece of the aforesaid type to be treated or repaired, so that dents, as well as bulging or projecting parts of a fender may be readily worked upon in a service station or at the garage of a home. The velocity and impact of the stream of fluid employed may be readily regulated or can be even completely stopped. The fluid may be admitted to the appliance to act under vacuum or pressure with respect to the adaptor proper applied to the work piece, thus affording the construction of a universally applicable tool for all practical purposes.

Sonnenberg APPLIANCE FOR TREATING ESPECIALLY THIN-WALLED METAL WORKPIECES Filed:

Inventor: Kent L. Sonnenberg, 750 Kappock St., Riverdale, N.Y.

Feb. 11, 1970 Appl. No.: 10,433

[52] US. Cl .L 72/56, 72/705, 29/421 [51] Int. Cl BZld 1/12 [58] Fieldof Search 72/705, 38, 39, 54,

251/24; 417/185; 294/64 R, 64 A, 64 B [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,799,318 7/1957 Blucher et a1. 29/421 X 1,926,413 9/1933Tibbs 138/46 3,146,798 9/1964 Chenault 138/44 1,181,566 5/1916 Bowden73/213 X 3,352,320 11/1967 Camp 138/46 X 3,538,517 11/1970 Cornish eta1. 251/24 2,771,933 11/1956 Edwards 72/705 2,112,290 3/1938 Holland417/185 X 3,099,278 7/1963 Keszler et a1. 417/185 X 3,584,836 6/1971Brubaker 72/705 X 3,052,479 9/1962 La-Trell 417/185 X 2,200,800 5/1940Miller 294/64 A 3,039,623 6/1962 Sehn et al.... 294/64 A 3,728,8914/1973 Hall 72/705 X Dec. 18, 1973 Primary Examiner-Charles W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-[Irvin M. Combs Attorney-J. B. Felshin et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT The invention concerns an appliance or tool for treating,in particular, thin-walled metal work pieces, such as automobile fendersand like metallic body parts which need repair or require straighteningout of dented or bulging damaged parts thereof. The appliance is soconstructed that the applicators adaptor can be changed to operate underthe action of a state of vacuum or through continuous or successiveagitation under pressure of a fluid, such as air, steam, and the like.This operation may take place depending, e.g., on the damage of a workpiece of the aforesaid type to be treated or repaired, so that dents, aswell as bulging or projecting parts of a fender may be readily workedupon in a service station or at the garage of a home. The velocity andimpact of the stream of fluid employed may be readily regulated or canbe even completely stopped. The fluid may be admitted to the applianceto act under vacuum or pressure with respect to the adaptor properapplied to the work piece, thus afi'ording the construction of auniversally applicable tool for all practical purposes.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventionspecifically deals with an automobile body repair appliance or toolwhich may be employed for straightening out thin-walled metal parts ofobjects which possess a base or body with substantially thinwalled metalcover.

It is therefore one'of the objects of this invention to provide meansfacilitating speedy repair of damaged body parts of the aforesaid typeby means of a portable appliance which may be operatively connected to apressure or vacuum line from a gas or air source of a service station orto a handy and portable aerosol container which is under gas pressure,thus enabling the performance of repairs substantially without any lossof time.

It is another object of the invention to provide means affordingregulation of the velocity of the fluid stream for varying the suctionor vacuum effect at the applicator end or adaptor which isinterchangeably connected to the tool.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of .meanscontributing to the interchangeability and shape of the adaptor relativeto the applicator de pending upon the extent, 'largeness and nature ofthe repair to which the work piece is to be subjected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means conducive to asimplified and compact structure or appliance of the aforesaid characterwhich can be easily held and guided by the hand of an operator, as it islight in weight, portable and generally easily accessible to parts to berepaired.

Yet a further object of the invention resides in the provision of meansenvisioning switching over of the appliance from a suction. action topressure exerting effeet, which may be administered continuously orintermittently (as a hammering-like impact).

The invention further contemplates the formation of an applicator whichcan be readily equipped with various shapes of adaptors suitablydimensioned in thickness and height to be placed over the work piecearea BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation (partly in section) of an appliance pursuantto the invention, showing head piece and applicator for connection witha conduit.

FIG; 2 illustrates partly in section a modified form of the head pieceand applicator.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a valve plate employable in carrying out theinvention, as seen along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show bottom plan views of various shapes of adaptorsemployable with the applicator, to which further reference is made lateron.

FIG. 7 is a hand-operated aerosol container connected to ahead pieceequipped with an applicator according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a valveoperated applicatornozzle for use in connection with a compressed air or fluid supply line.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF THE INVENTION Referring now more specificallyto the drawings, there has been disclosed in FIG. 1 an appliance 10which principally comprises a head piece 11, an applicator body 12 and atubular connector piece 13, which interconnects the head piece with theapplicator. Head piece 11 consistsof a casing proper 14 having a tubularinsert 15 terminating in a nozzle 16. The opposite end of the insert isthreadedly engaged at 17 to the head piece body and includes a hose orpipe connector part 18 for receiving the end of tubular part 19 of tubeor hose 20 made of any suitably bendable material. Tube body 20 isequipped with a hand-operated valve construction 22 known per se, whichis actuatable through a lever mechanism 21 to permit and cut off thefluid stream to head piece 11. g

Casing 14 of head piece 11 terminates in a suitably shaped end nozzle 25which is coaxially located with, but distant from nozzle 16 of tubularinsert 15.

Head piece 11 has further an exit opening 24, the wall defining theopening'24 is threaded to facilitate connection with tubular connectorpiece 13 substantially at right angles to coaxial nozzles 16 and 25.Threaded tubular piece 13 reaches: further with its extension 23 intothe applicator l2 and is attached to the latter by means of threads 23a.

Applicator 12 is preferably rectangular or round in shape although itsend piece 29 is recessed for retaining an adaptor element 30 which mayassume any desirable form and dimension. Tubular connector piece 13terminates within applicator 12 in a nozzle 31 which may be eitherreplaceable or adjustable in diameter in accordance with the invention.

Adaptor 30 consists preferably of a ring member made of rubber orsimilar yieldable and conformable material and is so chosen that itabuts and remains in contact with a surface area of a thin-walled pieceof material 32 to be worked upon. As illustrated in FIG. 1, work piece32 is indicated torepresent a portion of an automobile fender, which isdented at 33 and which is to be treated in order to straighten out thisfender portion. To this end applicator 12 is applied to an area definedby points or straight parts 34, 35 so that nozzle 31, e.g. under strongvacuum is capable of acting on this dented portion 33 to straighten thesame through continuous or intermittent actuation, as required.

This may be accomplished by connecting first tubular hose or conduit 20to a vacuum machine or similar source (not shown) generally employed inservice or gas stations. In such a case nozzle 25 of head piece 11 willbe plugged or closed, as will be later described, so that the vacuumaction is further transferred from tubular insert 15 via connector piece13 to nozzle 31.

If the need of a strong vacuum action is not required it will oftensuffice to connect hose 20 with an existent air compression line and letcompressed air escape through nozzles 16 and 25 of head piece 11 therebyproducing in a well-known manner a vacuum effect in the closed area 36via nozzle 31 and second tubular conduit 13 which is in communicationwith the nozzle arrangement 16, 25 receiving compressed air from asuitable source via hose 20. In both cases as just explained, the supplyof air or fluid through hose 20 may be controlled by means oflever-valve mechanism 21, 22 of known construction.

In order to regulate also the outflow of air or like fluid through exitor end nozzle 25 to the atmosphere, there has been provided according toFIGS. 2 and 3 a metallic valve plate 40 which is rotatably mounted on orconnected with either the head piece 11 or tubular connector 13, e.g. asillustrated and shown in section in FIG. 2.

In recess 39 of head piece 11 (FIG. 1) there is attached as by means ofwelding a support or carrier 38 which is engaged by a center pin orscrew bolt 41, which rotatably and adjustably carries valve plate 40.This plate is provided with a plurality of differently shaped anddimensioned nozzle end apertures 42, 43, 44 and 45 so positioned, thatthe same may be brought successively into registry with nozzle 25 ofhead piece 11 at end wall 25a. It is thus possible to eitheradditionally control the outflow of compressed air through combined andregistrable nozzle apertures 25-42 or 25-43, etc. or to completely plugend or exit nozzle 25 and prevent compressed fluid flow to theatmosphere by intimate contact of valve plate slug location, say, 46(FIG. 3) with end nozzle 25 in end surface 25a. Location 46 ispreferably indicated by an imperforate valve plate portion positionedbetween nozzle parts 43 and 44.

The admission of compressed air or similar fluid occurs then against abulging portion of an automobile fender either continuously via nozzle31 and special adaptor (preferably of greater height or thickness thanthat designated by numeral 30) or intermittently by a controlled valve50 producing a type of hammering effect on the work piece as may beeasily realized from FIG. 8. To this end either the lever-valvemechanism 21, 22 may be actuated by admitting or stopping temporarily(successively) flow of compressed fluid or the stream of fluid may passthrough tubular connector piece extension 23a in which suitably,preferable S- shaped valve 50 is rotatably installed, which during fluiddriven valve rotation successively opens and closes momentarily andintermittently passage to nozzle 31a (FIG. 8).

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show bottoms of various adaptors 30, 30a and 30b incircular and quadrangular formations, respectively, (adaptor 30b beingbroken off, as indicated).

FIG. 7 schematically shows a side elevational view of the head piece 11and applicator 12 connected to a portable material handling container aof the aerosol type, which is gas-actuated and acts on nozzlearrangement 16, 25, as well as on operational nozzle 31 in a mannerhereinabove explained.

Such aerosol container 20a is commercially available, but should bepressurized commensurate with the purpose intended.

Adaptor 30c may be interchanged to comply with the area extent andheight (thickness) required for covering the damaged location to betreated.

Any and all modifications of this invention are covered by the latter inits broadest aspects and the invention is not considered to be limitedto the specific embodiments herein shown and described.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided according to theinvention a highly versatile appliance of the type hereindisclosed-which is capable of being applied to metal surfaces of objectsat 34, 35 to straighten out the same after having been dented at 33 orbent outwardly protruding at 33a. The appliance may be operated,depending on the circumstances, either under negative pressure (vacuum)or regulated impact pressure or even under pressure producinginterrupted or intermittent pressure effects as indicated, e.g. in FIG.8.

Accordingly the invention is directed to a portable appliance of thetype herein disclosed, which is connectable with a fluid pressure lineand which comprises, in combination, a hollow T-shaped structureincluding a head piece containing a venturi device, a first end pieceforming part of said head piece for connection with a fluid pressureline, a second end piece having a discharge nozzle located forwardly ofsaid venturi device, an applicator, tubular means connecting saidapplicator or an axis at right angles to the axis of said venturi deviceand said nozzle, an adaptor forming part of said applicator andstructured to span a work piece to be treated, and a valve element insaid tubular means exposed to the impact of said fluid flow andstructured to automatically and intermittently regulate said fluid flowto said adaptor, thereby to provide a hammering effect caused by theaction of said fluid flow past said valve element. It will now beunderstood that this invention comprises the following:

An appliance for treating thin-walled metal work pieces, in particularautomobile fenders and like metallic work pieces, and appliance'beingportable and connectable with a fluid pressure line; comprising, incombination, a head piece provided with a connector piece for said fluidpressure line and containing a venturi device and terminating in adischarge opening forwardly of said venturi device, an applicator,tubular means connecting said applicator at right angles to said venturidevice and said discharge opening of said head piece, said applicatorbeing equipped with an adaptor to span said work piece to be treated, sothat flow of fluid when guided to said discharge opening via saidventuri device engenders said adaptor when the latter is applied to awork piece a fluid effect on the latter, and an aerosol containerforming a source of supply for said fluid and operatively joined to saidhead piece at said connector piece, said aerosol container beinginterchangeably attachable to said head piece connector, said appliancefurther including a value plate located outside said head piece and forrotatable operation of forwardly of and in contact with said dischargeopening, said valve plate being provided with means to close the flow ofsaid fluid through said discharge opening, said valve plate beingfurther equipped with apertures of different diameters for registrationwith said discharge opening respectively, thereby to vary thecrosssectional dimension of said discharge opening and to regulatepressure effects resulting from the corresponding fluid flow withrespect to said adaptor.

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance for treating thin-walled metal work pieces, inparticular automobile fenders and like metallic work pieces, saidappliance being portable and connectable with a fluid pressure line;comprising, in combination, a head piece provided with a connector piecefor said fluid pressure line and containing a venturi device andterminating in a discharge opening forwardly of said venturi device, anapplicator, tubular means connecting said applicator on an axis at rightangles to the axis of said venturi device and said discharge opening ofsaid head piece, said applicator being equipped with an adaptor to spansaid work piece to be treated, so that flow of fluid when guided to saiddischarge opening via said venturi device engenders in said adaptor whenthe latter is applied to a work piece a fluid effect on the latter, andan aerosol container forming a source of supply for said fluid andoperatively joined to said head piece at saidv connector piece, saidaerosol container being interchangeably attachable to said head piececonnector, including a valve element structured to rotate in saidtubular means, the flow of said fluid through said tubular means andpast said valve element being automatically and intermittentlyregulatable with respect to said adaptor, thereby to attain a hammeringeffect caused by the action resulting from the fluid flow past saidrotable valve element.

2. An appliance according to claim 1, said valve element being locatedadjacent said adaptor, and a valve plate formed with a plurality ofaperatures of varying sizes located for individual registration of saidapertures with the discharge opening of said head piece, thereby to varythe operation of said valve element and the flow of fluid with respectto said adaptor.

3. An appliance for treating thin-walled metal work pieces, inparticular fenders and like automobile body parts; comprising a hollow,portable T-shaped structure including a head piece containing a venturidevice, a first end piece forming part of said head piece for connectionwith a fluid flow line, a second end piece hav ing a discharge nozzlelocated forwardly of said venturi device, an applicator, tubular meansconnecting said applicator on an axis at right angles to the axis ofsaid venturi device and said discharge nozzle, an adaptor forming partof said applicator and structured to span a work piece to be treated,and a valve element in said tubular means exposed to the impact of saidfluid flow and structured to automatically intermittently regulate saidfluid flow to said adaptor, thereby to provide a hammering effect causedby action of said fluid flow past said valve element.

4. An appliance according to claim 3, including a valve plate rotatablymounted in front of said discharge nozzle, said valve plate beingprovided with apertures of various diameters passing through said valveplate for registration with said discharge nozzle respectively, andmeans on said valve plate to close passage of fluid flow through saiddischarge nozzle and to divert said fluid flow via said tubular meansand said device element to said adaptor.

1. An appliance for treating thin-walled metal work pieces, inparticular automobile fenders and like metallic work pieces, saidappliance being portable and connectable with a fluid pressure line;comprising, in combination, a head piece provided with a connector piecefor said fluid pressure line and containing a venturi device andterminating in a discharge opening forwardly of said venturi device, anapplicator, tubular means connecting said applicator on an axis at rightangles to the axis of said venturi device and said discharge opening ofsaid head piece, said applicator being equipped with an adaptor to spansaid work piece to be treated, so that flow of fluid when guided to saiddischarge opening via said venturi device engenders in said adaptor whenthe latter is applied to a work piece a fluid effect on the latter, andan aerosol container forming a source of supply for said fluid andoperatively joined to said head piece at said connector piece, saidaerosol container being interchangeably attachable to said head piececonnector, including a valve element structured to rotate in saidtubular means, the flow of said fluid through saId tubular means andpast said valve element being automatically and intermittentlyregulatable with respect to said adaptor, thereby to attain a hammeringeffect caused by the action resulting from the fluid flow past saidrotable valve element.
 2. An appliance according to claim 1, said valveelement being located adjacent said adaptor, and a valve plate formedwith a plurality of aperatures of varying sizes located for individualregistration of said apertures with the discharge opening of said headpiece, thereby to vary the operation of said valve element and the flowof fluid with respect to said adaptor.
 3. An appliance for treatingthin-walled metal work pieces, in particular fenders and like automobilebody parts; comprising a hollow, portable T-shaped structure including ahead piece containing a venturi device, a first end piece forming partof said head piece for connection with a fluid flow line, a second endpiece having a discharge nozzle located forwardly of said venturidevice, an applicator, tubular means connecting said applicator on anaxis at right angles to the axis of said venturi device and saiddischarge nozzle, an adaptor forming part of said applicator andstructured to span a work piece to be treated, and a valve element insaid tubular means exposed to the impact of said fluid flow andstructured to automatically intermittently regulate said fluid flow tosaid adaptor, thereby to provide a hammering effect caused by action ofsaid fluid flow past said valve element.
 4. An appliance according toclaim 3, including a valve plate rotatably mounted in front of saiddischarge nozzle, said valve plate being provided with apertures ofvarious diameters passing through said valve plate for registration withsaid discharge nozzle respectively, and means on said valve plate toclose passage of fluid flow through said discharge nozzle and to divertsaid fluid flow via said tubular means and said device element to saidadaptor.